Vocational Rehabilitation
eDev works with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (OVRS) to help clients become self-employed. eDev typically works with 60 to 70 vocational rehabilitation clients annually throughout Oregon. If you are eligible for OVRS services and would like to start your own business, you can request the self-employment option to your OVRS counselor.
Any referral to eDev from OVRS must be accompanied by a referral form, client intake form, and a business feasibility assessment form completed by both the counselor and client. Prior to contacting eDev, please ensure that you have the following documentation completed; eDev will not initiate client contact until the following items are received. An AFP is generated after eDev and the OVRS counselor have determined the expected level of service necessary.
Typically, an eDev counselor will conduct a feasibility study to determine if the business idea for self-employment is realistic. The feasibility study will conclude with a recommendation to move forward to business plan, to take an intermediary step, or to stop business development. If the OVRS counselor decides to continue based on evidence from the feasibility study, eDev may assist the client in writing a business plan. However, we prefer that the client write the business plan so that the client will have ownership in the business concept.
eDev is frequently able to utilize other financial resources to help vocational rehabilitation clients. By spreading out the start-up costs among various grants and agencies, eDev is able to lower the costs associated with starting a business. For example, many vocational rehabilitation clients are eligible for our IDA program which represents an additional $4,000 of capital equity available. Additionally, eDev has access to several loan programs. eDev may also be able to provide free business classes within certain geographic areas covered by our grants.
